City-based NGO Jan Kalyan Morcha on Monday demanded that the Chakradharpur railway authorities declare the footbridge at Adityapur station, which was damaged on Sunday, as “condemned” and set up a new one closer to the station.

The development comes at a time the bridge repair is already underway.

The footbridge was damaged when an engine got derailed and hit one of its columns following a head-on collision with a goods train.

Earlier, the bridge was damaged on June 22, 1995, also because of the faulty movement of trains.

Jan Kalyan Morcha has shot off a letter to Chakradharpur divisional railway manager Chhatrasal Singh, demanding the replacement of the old footbridge with a new one.

NGO president Om Prakash said the four-decade old footbridge was not being used by passengers as it was located about 50 metres away from Adityapur station. “Passengers usually get to the other side of the platform by crossing the tracks and risking their life. The railway authority should declare the existing bridge as ‘condemned’ and construct another one at a new spot,” Prakash said.

Divisional commercial manager of Chakradharpur Arjun Majumdar said the engineering division had already started mending the damaged footbridge and it would be ready for use in a couple of days.

On why the bridge was built 50 metres away from the station, Majumdar said, “The railway yard at Adityapur station is much bigger than the platforms. This is the reason why the bridge was set up around 50 metres away from the platforms. We are aware about the problem that the passengers have to face, but there is no way out.”

Located around 4km from Tatanagar, Adityapur station witnesses 3,000 footfalls every day. Over two dozen passenger trains, including South Bihar Express and Tata-Chhapra Express stop here.